LOS ANGELES – In 2009, when Kevin Prince was flustered, harried or simply unsure of where to go with the ball, he often found tight ends Logan Paulsen or Ryan Moya in that little crack between the defensive line and the second level.

Paulsen and Moya are gone – taking their combined 47 receptions with them – and Prince now has Cory Harkey to find in the seams it seems.

Harkey missed three days of practice with a minor concussion but returned full-go Wednesday, and his presence was felt.

“Coming back earlier today, I felt a little off,” Harkey said of the team’s two practices Wednesday. “Now I’m starting to catch up, I’m back with everybody, and it’s good to be back with the offense.”

In UCLA’s revamped “revolver” offense, Harkey’s role as tight end essentially was undefined during spring ball with the incorporation of the F-back position, a hybrid tight end/running back role.

With Joseph Fauria still nursing a groin injury and only walk-ons Kevin McDermott and Andrew Hill as options, Harkey’s return was especially welcomed.

“The only reason he can keep up even a little bit is because he’s such an intelligent player,” tight ends coach Brian Sheppard said. “Even when he’s back there, he and Fauria are back there helping the younger guys, making sure they have what they need, talking about the defense, `Hey, did you see that slant?’ He’s getting the mental reps there, and he’s great with that.”

But mental reps are no replacement for live action and Harkey, although he has valuable in-game experience, needs the work.

“Does it matter if he misses practice? It definitely matters if he misses,” Sheppard said. “Everything is reps. Everything. Footwork, sight adjustments, knowing the players, everything. You can’t simulate any of that.

“Only Brett Favre can miss three weeks of camp and be ready.”

Prince watch

Prince again was limited in practice because of an oblique strain. With the regular-season opener against Kansas State looming, Prince set a fail-safe date to return.

“Monday will be a little less than two weeks away, and that’s for sure the date I need to back by,” Prince said. “I can get that full week in and the gameplan week.

“I feel comfortable with everything we’re doing. It’s not a sense of getting out there just to execute things, but to get back and get the feel of everything. I’d imagine I’d be a little rusty now.”